This recording of "Alexander's Feast" was made live at Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau, Germany, on May 11th, 2008.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Handel's "Alexander's Feast" evokes the power of music to stir emotions like love, war, revenge, and revelry, culminating in praise for St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music.
Composition History
Handel completed his setting of John Dryden's 1697 poem "Alexander's Feast" in January 1736, with its first performance on February 19th at Covent Garden Theatre.
Compositional Technique
The original version of "Alexander's Feast" included concertos, such as one for 'Harp, Lute, Lyricord and other Instruments' and another for organ.
Composition History
The text for "Alexander's Feast," originally by John Dryden, was adapted by Newburgh Hamilton, who added a final chorus.
Historical Context
The poem "Alexander's Feast" is based on an anecdote about Alexander the Great, who, after defeating Darius, was induced by the courtesan Thaïs to burn Xerxes' palace at Persepolis.
Notable Performances
The premiere of Handel's "Alexander's Feast" attracted an audience of 1,300 people and 150 subscribers to the edition published two years later.
